Chosen as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Financial Post's Ten Best Companies to Work For for 2010:
By Richard Yerema and Rachel Caballero, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 2, 2009)
Some of the reasons why Digital Extremes was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2010:
the company's CEO recently donated one month of his salary to ensure that one employee could afford home renovations to ensure accessibility for a loved one who lives with disabilities
provides parental leave top-up benefits to employees who are new mothers (to 80% of salary for 24 weeks)
considers a new employees' previous years of experience when determining their starting vacation entitlement
supports employees' skills development with tuition subsidies (to $2500 each year) and financial bonuses when they obtain certain professional accreditations (to $1,000)
a expanding independent Canadian game developer, adding over 30 new positions last year and employing nearly 100 people
offers a fitness club subsidy as well as an incentive bonus (to $450) to encourage employees to get and stay fit
Employer Background
Digital Extremes is one of the industry's leading independent game development studios, developing content for a variety of game platforms including Playstation3 and Xbox360.
Established in 1993, the London-based company is behind such popular video game titles as BioShock, Dark Sector and the Unreal Tournament series. Digital Extremes is recognized for pioneering game design, visuals and technology as well as developing its own proprietary game development software that is designed to reduce the risk and costs of game development -- for itself and other game developers. Impressively, the growing company has recently expanded to create two development teams, allowing simultaneous development of separate projects.
Industry:Custom Computer Programming Services. Established: 1993. Major Canadian Hiring Locations: London ON. Revenues: $7 million. Full-Time Employees in Canada: 96. Full-Time at this location: 96. Full-Time Worldwide: 96. New jobs created in Canada last year: 31. Voluntary employee turnover last year: 10%. Longest serving employee: 16 years. Workforce engaged on a contract basis: 7%. Number of applications received at this location last year: 841. Percentage of employees who are women: 9%. Of managers: 50%. Percentage of employees who are visible minorities: 14%. Of managers: 17%. Average age of all employees: 32.
Rating: APhysical Workplace
Digital Extremes' physical workplace is rated as above-average. Located in London's historic downtown, the head office is located inside one of the city's tallest buildings and is only a short walk to beautiful historic neighbourhoods, the trendy Richmond Row shopping area and the central Victoria Park that offers numerous summer festivals and an outdoor skating rink under the Christmas lights during the winter months. Inside, the head office features an employee lounge (with comfortable seating, music, television, video games, vintage arcade games, magazines, library, pool table, dart board; and outdoor balcony with great city view); nap room; secure bicycle parking; free parking; onsite fitness facility as well as a food court on the main floor of the building; free dinners for employees working late; free coffee and tea; free snacks available, including fresh fruit, granola bars, potato chips, cookies and rice cakes.
Rating: B+Work Atmosphere & Communications
Digital Extremes' work atmosphere is rated as very good. On the job, employees enjoy casual dress daily; can listen to music while working; employee sports teams; organized social events. Employees enjoy a variety of fun social events throughout the year, including a Christmas party, summer barbeque, product launch parties, a special make your own ice cream sundae day and periodic pub nights and dinners. Currently, the company sponsor employee dodgeball, basketball, indoor soccer teams -- and even a paintball outing. Digital Extremes captures feedback and keeps employees informed about new developments through a corporate intranet site; traditional suggestion box; email suggestion box.
Rating: B+Financial Benefits & Compensation
Digital Extremes' financial benefits are rated as very good. To keep salaries competitive the company participates in outside salary surveys every 6 months. Individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months. In addition to paying competitive compensation rates, the company provides signing bonuses for some employees; new employee referral bonuses (to $1,000 for some positions); year-end bonuses for all employees; year-end bonuses (to $10,000); profit-sharing plan for all employees; matching RSP contributions; life & disability insurance; discounted games.
Rating: AHealth & Family-Friendly Benefits
Digital Extremes' health and family benefits are rated as above-average. The company's benefit plan is managed by Great West Life. As part of the health plan, the employer pays 100% of the premiums. Employees who work 20 hours per week receive coverage. The waiting period for new employees is 90 days. Employees receive full family coverage on the health benefits plan. The basic plan includes routine dental; restorative dental; orthodontics; eyecare ($250 every 2 years); traditional medicine coverage; alternative medicine coverage; massage therapy; medical equipment and supplies; homecare; employee assistance (EAP) plan; travel insurance. The company also provides a 40% discount on fitness club memberships at GoodLife Fitness. In addition to discounted memeberships, the company also offers an incentive program to encourage employees to get in shape. As part of this program, GoodLife performs health assessments when employees sign-up. If an employee's health assessment shows improvement after one year, then the employee receives a $450 bonus. If the assessment shows that the employee has maintained their fitness levels then they receive a $250 bonus. And, if the assessment show a decrease then there no bonus forthcoming. Digital Extremes' family-friendly benefits include; maternity top-up payments (to 80% of salary for 24 weeks); parental leave top-up for new fathers (to 100% of salary for 1 week); parental leave top-up for adoptive parents (to 100% of salary for 1 week). Additional family-friendly benefits include; flexible working hours; telecommuting; shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay).
Rating: C+Vacation & Personal Time-Off
Digital Extremes' vacation and personal time-off are rated as below-average. New employees receive 2 weeks of vacation allowance after their first year. Vacation increases after 3 years on the job. Long-serving employees receive a maximum of 4 weeks of vacation each year. During the Christmas to New Year's holiday break, employees receive an additional 4 days off. Employees receive 5 paid sick days every year. Digital Extremes considers previous work experience when setting annual vacation for new employees.
Rating: B+Employee Engagement
Digital Extremes' employee engagement program is rated as very good. Employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months. Managers receive training in how to conduct effective performance reviews. Performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work. As part of the review process employees can provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance. The company celebrated project completions with pub nights, bowling or a evening at the movies. In addition, project completion bonuses may also be part of the celebration. Digital Extremes sponsors its own in-house employee satisfaction survey. (Surveys are conducted every 6 months).
Rating: ATraining & Skills Development
Digital Extremes' training and skills development program is rated as above-average. Employees receive tuition subsidies for courses related to their position. (The employer provides up to $2,500 in subsidies). Employees may also receive tuition subsidies for courses unrelated to their current position. (The employer provides up to $2,500 in tuition subsidies for non-related courses). In addition to generous tuition subsidies, the company supports ongoing education with subsidies for professional accreditations; in-house training programs; online training programs; online employee skills inventory; formal mentoring program; financial bonuses for project completions (to $1,000).
Rating: A+Community Involvement
Digital Extremes' community involvement program is rated as exceptional. The company directs it charitable support to a number of local initiatives (and even to its employees). In an inspired initiative, the company's CEO recently donated one month of his salary to help an employee who needed to conduct renovations to the family home in order to accommodate the needs of a family member who lives with disabilities. Employees take part in the selection of charitable groups assisted each year. Employees receive paid time off to volunteer with their favourite charitable organizations. Employees also receive 8 paid days off to volunteer; Approximately 8 charitable and community organizations were supported last year. To encourage employee giving, Digital Extremes offers matching donations for employees giving to their favourite charities. The company and its employees also spend much time speaking to and supporting local high school and university students who are interested in pursuing a career in the gaming industry.
